Wilmington airport officials weren't expecting flight cuts so soon

Published: Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 1:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 1:20 p.m.

Wilmington International Airport officials said they knew American Airlines would need to cut flights as a result of its merger with US Airways, but they weren't expecting those cuts to come so soon.

"We were kind of blindsided on the timing of it," said Joseph Pickering, an Atlanta-based consultant with Mead & Hunt, Inc., who works with the airport.

American Airlines announced Wednesday evening they were cutting nonstop, daily service between Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) and 17 communities, including Wilmington, Fayetteville, Jacksonville and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The cuts were the result of the merger and mandated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure that the airline wouldn't control too many of the flights at the airport.

Washington National, which is the capital's in-close airport, is a slot-controlled airport. That means carriers can't just start service, but have to use precious takeoff and landing slots because demand to serve the airport vastly exceeds its capacity.

Pickering said when airline representatives testified before the DOJ last year, which happened before the Dec. 9 merger was approved, there was discussion about flight slots at Washington-National being divested.

At recent New Hanover County Airport Authority meetings there had even been discussion about the low plane load counts on the airport's two daily flights to Washington.

And the notion of losing one of those flights was a possibility, said Gary Broughton, the airport's operations director.

Losing both, however, was not something that was considered.

"We lost it all," Broughton said.

Wilmington passengers can still connect to DCA, but now have to make a connection through Charlotte or Atlanta.

"Our hope was we could keep the nonstop," Pickering said, adding losing just one of the flights was clearly preferred over a total loss of the route.

Broughton said airport officials will continue operating as usual until a final stop date for the flights is announced. In Wednesday's release, American officials said they're working to sell the slots in the coming weeks.

Broughton said local politicians and business officials supported the merger and urged DOJ to approve it without Wilmington losing anything as a result.

"We tried to save the Washington flight," he said.

Pickering said he plans to attend an industry conference next week and will see what new information he can get about the American decision.

Additionally, he intends to see if this loss can lead to ILM gaining a flight to Washington Dulles International Airport, which is not slot-controlled.

<p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/TOPIC9917"><b>Wilmington International Airport</b></a> officials said they knew American Airlines would need to cut flights as a result of its merger with US Airways, but they weren't expecting those cuts to come so soon.</p><p>"We were kind of blindsided on the timing of it," said Joseph Pickering, an Atlanta-based consultant with Mead & Hunt, Inc., who works with the airport.</p><p>American Airlines announced Wednesday evening they were cutting nonstop, daily service between Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) and 17 communities, including Wilmington, Fayetteville, Jacksonville and Myrtle Beach, S.C.</p><p>The cuts were the result of the merger and mandated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure that the airline wouldn't control too many of the flights at the airport.</p><p>Washington National, which is the capital's in-close airport, is a slot-controlled airport. That means carriers can't just start service, but have to use precious takeoff and landing slots because demand to serve the airport vastly exceeds its capacity.</p><p>Pickering said when airline representatives testified before the DOJ last year, which happened before the Dec. 9 merger was approved, there was discussion about flight slots at Washington-National being divested.</p><p>At recent New Hanover County Airport Authority meetings there had even been discussion about the low plane load counts on the airport's two daily flights to Washington.</p><p>And the notion of losing one of those flights was a possibility, said Gary Broughton, the airport's operations director.</p><p>Losing both, however, was not something that was considered.</p><p>"We lost it all," Broughton said.</p><p>Wilmington passengers can still connect to DCA, but now have to make a connection through Charlotte or Atlanta.</p><p>"Our hope was we could keep the nonstop," Pickering said, adding losing just one of the flights was clearly preferred over a total loss of the route.</p><p>Broughton said airport officials will continue operating as usual until a final stop date for the flights is announced. In Wednesday's release, American officials said they're working to sell the slots in the coming weeks.</p><p>Broughton said local politicians and business officials supported the merger and urged DOJ to approve it without Wilmington losing anything as a result.</p><p>"We tried to save the Washington flight," he said.</p><p>Pickering said he plans to attend an industry conference next week and will see what new information he can get about the American decision.</p><p>Additionally, he intends to see if this loss can lead to ILM gaining a flight to Washington Dulles International Airport, which is not slot-controlled.</p><p>Caitlin Dineen: 343-2339</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @CaitlinDineen</p>